Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
A new study found that African-Americans in New Orleans were arrested on pot charges in far greater numbers than other offenders over the past six years. Although the city has eased its marijuana possession laws in recent years, those arrested still face long-term consequences.
New Orleans' police chief says the numbers don't provide the complete story, but he reports fewer arrests since cops were given the option to issue summonses for all instances for minor possession.
The Vera Institute of Justice examined police data from January 2010 through 2015 and found that 85 percent of those arrested in New Orleans for marijuana-related offenses (excluding distribution) are black. By comparison, the city's population is 58.5 percent African-American, according to the most recent Census Bureau data.
The city created a new municipal marijuana law, which took effect in June, that scales back the penalties for simple possession. New Orleans police can now issue a summons to someone caught with less than 2.5 pounds of marijuana instead of arresting them, as called for in state law.
The authors of the study (read it below) lauded recent efforts to reduce the number of marijuana arrests, but their findings show "racial disparity remains stubbornly high in the city's police responses to marijuana-possession offenses."
The ramifications of being arrested are detailed throughout the study. In 2014 and 2015, Vera's researchers found the New Orleans Police Department made an average 1,625 arrests per months. Of those, 53 people were apprehended for marijuana-related offenses, 40 of which were possession charges. Misdemeanor arrests accounted for 31 of those taken into custody, and these suspects spent and average of five days in jail before their case was resolved.
Over the two-year period, marijuana possession charges accounted for 280 jail bed days per month, with 152 days attributed to misdemeanor offenses.
Detention and court attendance take their toll on defendants, according to the study. "People may lose their jobs because they miss work ... They need to find transportation and ensure child care during court appearances ..."
Vera's study cites recent Arnold Foundation research that found even short periods of pretrial detention -- even as short as a two-day jail stay -- "contributed to worse trial outcomes, harsher sentences, increased likelihood of rearrest before trial upon release, and increased recidivism rates among those who are convicted."
Over the six-year period, the Vera Institute found African-Americans accounted for 94 percent of arrests for felony marijuana possession and were most likely to face higher bail to get out of jail.
The study doesn't go so far as to make recommendations on addressing the disparity in arrests, but one of its authors says it provides a "wake-up call" to look at the factors contributing to the rates.
"On the policy and police practice side, we need to wrap our arms around why there is such disparity," said Jon Wool, director of Vera's New Orleans office.
NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said the numbers lack the full context that explains why felony arrests were made, although the Vera report states "possession with intent to distribute was the most serious charge at arrest" used when compiling data. Other variables not taken into consideration include whether police were called to respond to criminal activity and how manpower is allocated, the chief said.
The NOPD looks back at its own arrest data to determine how to police efficiently, Harrison said. Police don't save very much time when writing summonses for marijuana possession versus arrests, but the more significant impact is keeping offenders out of the state criminal justice system, he added.
The tenor of the study echoes that of the arguments New Orleans City Councilwoman Susan Guidry made when pushing for recent changes to the city's marijuana possession laws. Both note that since 2011, when New Orleans police were allowed the option of not arresting someone for first-offense simple possession, summons were issued nearly evenly along racial lines with 68 percent of whites and 69 percent of blacks given citations instead of being taken into custody.
Still, Guidry said Monday the numbers reveal an inordinate number of African-American arrests.
"When you look at the raw numbers, it's shockingly high," she said, adding that the problem isn't unique to New Orleans and one that probably won't be solved at the legislative level.
"We can't tell police who to arrest," Guidry said.
Wool with the Vera Institute said he hopes the study will advance discussions on where police resources should be devoted, with the goal finding consensus on which crimes affect public safety."Are we deploying resources in an effective way in the areas we care most about?" he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Arrest Rates For African-Americans 'Stubbornly High' In New Orleans, Study Says
Author: Greg LaRose
Photo Credit: Justin Tang
Website: Nola
New Orleans' police chief says the numbers don't provide the complete story, but he reports fewer arrests since cops were given the option to issue summonses for all instances for minor possession.
The Vera Institute of Justice examined police data from January 2010 through 2015 and found that 85 percent of those arrested in New Orleans for marijuana-related offenses (excluding distribution) are black. By comparison, the city's population is 58.5 percent African-American, according to the most recent Census Bureau data.
The city created a new municipal marijuana law, which took effect in June, that scales back the penalties for simple possession. New Orleans police can now issue a summons to someone caught with less than 2.5 pounds of marijuana instead of arresting them, as called for in state law.
The authors of the study (read it below) lauded recent efforts to reduce the number of marijuana arrests, but their findings show "racial disparity remains stubbornly high in the city's police responses to marijuana-possession offenses."
The ramifications of being arrested are detailed throughout the study. In 2014 and 2015, Vera's researchers found the New Orleans Police Department made an average 1,625 arrests per months. Of those, 53 people were apprehended for marijuana-related offenses, 40 of which were possession charges. Misdemeanor arrests accounted for 31 of those taken into custody, and these suspects spent and average of five days in jail before their case was resolved.
Over the two-year period, marijuana possession charges accounted for 280 jail bed days per month, with 152 days attributed to misdemeanor offenses.
Detention and court attendance take their toll on defendants, according to the study. "People may lose their jobs because they miss work ... They need to find transportation and ensure child care during court appearances ..."
Vera's study cites recent Arnold Foundation research that found even short periods of pretrial detention -- even as short as a two-day jail stay -- "contributed to worse trial outcomes, harsher sentences, increased likelihood of rearrest before trial upon release, and increased recidivism rates among those who are convicted."
Over the six-year period, the Vera Institute found African-Americans accounted for 94 percent of arrests for felony marijuana possession and were most likely to face higher bail to get out of jail.
The study doesn't go so far as to make recommendations on addressing the disparity in arrests, but one of its authors says it provides a "wake-up call" to look at the factors contributing to the rates.
"On the policy and police practice side, we need to wrap our arms around why there is such disparity," said Jon Wool, director of Vera's New Orleans office.
NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said the numbers lack the full context that explains why felony arrests were made, although the Vera report states "possession with intent to distribute was the most serious charge at arrest" used when compiling data. Other variables not taken into consideration include whether police were called to respond to criminal activity and how manpower is allocated, the chief said.
The NOPD looks back at its own arrest data to determine how to police efficiently, Harrison said. Police don't save very much time when writing summonses for marijuana possession versus arrests, but the more significant impact is keeping offenders out of the state criminal justice system, he added.
The tenor of the study echoes that of the arguments New Orleans City Councilwoman Susan Guidry made when pushing for recent changes to the city's marijuana possession laws. Both note that since 2011, when New Orleans police were allowed the option of not arresting someone for first-offense simple possession, summons were issued nearly evenly along racial lines with 68 percent of whites and 69 percent of blacks given citations instead of being taken into custody.
Still, Guidry said Monday the numbers reveal an inordinate number of African-American arrests.
"When you look at the raw numbers, it's shockingly high," she said, adding that the problem isn't unique to New Orleans and one that probably won't be solved at the legislative level.
"We can't tell police who to arrest," Guidry said.
Wool with the Vera Institute said he hopes the study will advance discussions on where police resources should be devoted, with the goal finding consensus on which crimes affect public safety."Are we deploying resources in an effective way in the areas we care most about?" he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Arrest Rates For African-Americans 'Stubbornly High' In New Orleans, Study Says
Author: Greg LaRose
Photo Credit: Justin Tang
Website: Nola
